This once-a-year opportunity provides an experience that leaves you energized and thinking about embedding the Bridges constructs in a whole new way.

The conference brings together authors, consultants, and people from around the U.S. and abroad to discuss outcomes and changed lives.

Broaden your professional network.

The sessions are presented by practitioners. These presenters are in the trenches working on sustainability, poverty reduction, stabilization, housing, food resources, emergency resources for families, financial literacy, workforce development, and more. Some are working at the individual level, others at the organizational level, and some take a 30,000-foot view on how these strategies will impact community sustainability.

You will learn best practices from those who have built successful programs to address poverty in their communities, organizations, and institutions. As Chris Parsons from Schenectady, New York, told me, “The conference is an opportunity to move outside of the box and to create new opportunities to share the Bridges movement. You are a part of a larger community all working toward a common goal. You are not doing it alone; this network is supporting you and ‘has your back.’ The networking, new friends, and connections are valuable as you continue to grow your Bridges initiative.”

You will hear stories of success from people who have improved their resources and stabilized their lives. These are the most powerful messages at the conference. Transitioning from poverty to self-sufficiency is not for the faint of heart!

There are always more sectors to involve in your community. Hear from those who have expanded into health systems, criminal justice, business, education, and more. They cleared a path for you to use their ideas and make your implementation smoother and more successful. It refuels your body, soul, and professional vigor.

Sonia Holycross is a family development coordinator at Partners in Hope in Troy, Ohio. As she said, reducing poverty in our communities can be emotionally draining. The conference serves as a reminder to her that she is part of a movement in poverty reduction, and she gets strength to go back and continue working with clients on stability strategies.

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